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The format for this Lee Strobel book is similar to the one used for his previous book, The Case For Christ. In both, he tackles each topic by interviewing a renowned expert in that particular field. In this book, he has compiled an impressive group to take on, what he calls, "The Big Eight" objections to the Christian faith. Peter Kreeft, William Craig, Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler, Walter Bradley, J.P. Moreland, John Woodbirdge, and Lynn Anderson are the experts Strobel consults as each issue is discussed. Strobel is adept at interviewing subjects, as well he should be, since he was once the award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. He holds a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School. He also, was once a devout atheist.
The thing I really like about this book is that it can be used to quickly review difficult subjects and is laid out in such a way that finding each subject is easy to do. And these are difficult subjects, some of which I encounter as I witness. Perhaps you have heard the questions asked or had questions, yourself. How can a loving God allow such evil and suffering to exist? How can one believe in the fairy tales of virgin births or changing water into wine or empty tombs? Miracles cannot be true since they contradict science. Since evolution explains life, who needs God? Doesn't the killing of innocent children in the Old Testament prove that God is a sadistic being? If not, sending people to hell to burn forever sure does! Why should I be a Christian when Christianity is responsible for some of the most obscene atrocities ever perpetuated by man? The Crusades, the Inquisitions, and Salem witch burnings prove that Christianity is far from the loving religion it portrays itself to be. Why are Christians so arrogant to believe that only they will go to heaven?
These questions, although whole libraries could be stocked with books written on each, are discussed at sufficient length and gives the reader a lot of information yet not so much as to get lost in it. If you witness long enough, you'll hear all of these objections to Christianity. While most were, I have to admit that a couple of the conclusions were not satisfactory to me. All in all, though, this book is a "must have" in anyone's collection who is a serious seeker of truth, Christian or not. Many Christians, though they will not always admit it, also struggle with some of these issues. To the Christian, it will help alleviate some of those nagging questions that we just can't seem to understand. It will also serve as an aid as you try to win the non-Christian to Christ. To the non-Christian seeker, it will, hopefully, make the Christian position more palatable and clear up an issue that may be blocking the journey to salvation and surrender to the God of the Bible.
These are "real-life" challenges with which the world is confronting the church. If we expect to win the world to Christ, we'll have to tackle these tough issues. There are adequate answers to all of the world's questions. We just have to care enough to want to be able to answer them. Reading this book would be a good start in proving that we are serious about convincing the world that Jesus Christ is the answer.
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